Throughout this week, sections of the local
media have been busy trying to find a name that rightly befits
this weekend’s Glo Premier League game between centenary club
Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Ohene Djan
Sports Stadium.

Call it the Ultimate Encounter or the Super
Clash as proposed by many, Hearts-Kotoko matches will continue
to draw a lot of attention. As the two giant clubs meet in the
7th week, 2011/2012 Glo Premier League fixture, in a fierce
challenge for three points and bragging rights, most of the
things that repeatedly characterize their clashes will be
replayed.

There is often tension, predictions and bets
among supporters, media debates and analyses on which team is
the best, resort to superstition, calls for fair officiating and
adequate security measures at the stadium, promises of fat
winning bonuses, motivational packages, etc.

Unlike Kotoko, Hearts’ run in the 2011/2012
season has been tainted with defeat. With their centenary
celebration match against Enugu Rangers of Nigeria also ending
in a miserable 1-2 loss in Accra, the Phobians would want to use Kotoko
to appease their disappointed supporters and what a good
appeasement it would be for them should the game go their way.

Kotoko no doubt have their own ideas – some
of which include maintaining our top spot on the Glo Premier
League log and moving on with our spotless performance to
achieve greater things in the season.

Whereas the ambitions of both clubs are
logical, both are quick to admit that it takes far more than the
mere expressions of intent to be victorious in their matches.
The Porcupines storm the capital in a fine psychological state,
having beaten their arch rivals in their last two clashes this
year at the same venue.

The first was the return leg of the
2010/2011 tie in March, which saw Kotoko chalking an emphatic
2-0 win. The second came last month, in the Super 2 clash,
organised by the Christian non-governmental organisation – Kome
to My Aid International, which again saw the fabulous team
playing pleasantly to thrash Hearts 3-1.

But Hearts are not bothered by records
because even Kotoko concede that the statistics and their
accompanying interpretations usually have no effect on who
emerges the winner. Same can be said about the current form and
shape of the two sides. Nonetheless, it is worth mentioning that
Asante Kotoko is in a much better condition than Hearts of Oak.

It will therefore not be surprising if
Hearts of Oak struggle to keep pace with the Porcupines. Coach
Maxwell Konadu who was the mastermind behind the impressive 3-1
victory has been thinking deeply to plot and ascertain where to
hit Hearts the most in order to knock them down completely.

The Kotoko technical handler was at the
stadium when Hearts were embarrassed by Enugu Rangers. Konadu’s
joy on his way back to Kumasi was however not
relative to Hearts of Oak’s humiliation. Rather it was the
chance he had to watch the Phobians days ahead of the big game.
He has since been back in Kumasi preparing his side to shake Accra and surely Maxwell Konadu will lead the
Porcupines to beat Hearts of Oak once again on Sunday.